The 50 Best Restaurants 2026 list is out, with Spain’s Asador Etxebarri at No. 1 and Canadian chef Jessica Rosval named Best Female Chef.
The 50 Best Restaurants 2026: Asador Etxebarri ranks No. 1
Set in the village of Axpe, in Atxondo, between Bilbao and San Sebastián, Asador Etxebarri is led by self-taught chef Bittor Arguinzoniz. His custom-built grills allow him to bring different woods and levels of heat to ingredients, whether that is a Palamós prawn, a substantial beef chop or a surprisingly delicate dessert. The restaurant rose from No. 2 in 2025 to No. 1 this year.
There is nothing casual about the precision involved, but the appeal is easy to understand. Rather than adding layers of elaborate technique simply for spectacle, Arguinzoniz uses the fire to reveal the character of the ingredients. In an international dining scene full of immersive experiences, his victory makes a persuasive case for restraint.
The world’s top 10 restaurants for 2026
- Asador Etxebarri, Atxondo, Spain
- Gaggan, Bangkok, Thailand
- Alchemist, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Quintonil, Mexico City, Mexico
- Wing, Hong Kong
- The Chairman, Hong Kong
- Kjolle, Lima, Peru
- Kadeau, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Diverxo, Madrid, Spain
- Plénitude, Paris, France
New York’s Atomix placed No. 11 and was the only restaurant from the United States or Canada in the global top 50. São Paulo’s Tuju entered at No. 16, the highest new entry, while Copenhagen’s Kadeau earned the Highest Climber Award.
A Canadian chef earns international recognition
Montreal-trained chef Jessica Rosval is this year’s recipient of the Best Female Chef Award, and her restaurant Al Gatto Verde made its debut on the global list at No. 24. Rosval has built her career in Italy, including work with Massimo Bottura’s team, and now brings Canadian roots and a love of live-fire cooking to Emilia-Romagna.
Her work reaches beyond the restaurant. Rosval co-founded an initiative supporting culinary training and employment opportunities for migrant women in Modena, which helped lead to the Roots restaurant project. It is an inspiring reminder that a chef’s influence can extend far beyond the dining room.
What about Vancouver and Canadian restaurants?
No Canadian restaurant appears on the 2026 global top 50, but that is not the whole story. The organization’s separate North America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 ranking included three British Columbia establishments: Published on Main in Vancouver at No. 17, AnnaLena in Vancouver at No. 35 and Wild Blue in Whistler at No. 47.
Dining destinations around the world
The global ranking draws on the votes of an international academy of more than 1,100 restaurant experts. It can reveal places and chefs worth learning about, but it remains one perspective on a much larger dining world. A memorable restaurant experience depends on more than a numbered list, including the atmosphere, service, cost and whether the meal is the kind of experience you actually want.
Explore The 50’s official 2026 global ranking, read more about Asador Etxebarri, and see our earlier coverage of the restaurants ranked 51 to 100.
